DIY Fabric Swatch Book (+ FREE Template to Print)

A fabric swatch book is a quick way to check what's in your fabric stash. When you're about to start a new sewing project, just flick through the pages to remember what fabrics you have, how big the pieces are, washing instructions, and whether you've prewashed them or not. Without one, it can be easy to forget what fabrics you have and never use them or accidentally rebuy them!

I created a FREE template that you can print and use for your swatch book. The template includes:

• Fabric name
• Fiber composition
• Fabric length x width
• Care instructions
• Notes (for things like fabric weight, pattern repeat measurements, supplier, price)
• “Pre-washed?” tickbox
• “No longer in stash?” tickbox

• Download the swatch book template. It's designed for US letter paper but it will also fit A4 paper, there will just be a bit more empty space at the bottom. When you press “print”, make sure the paper size says “A4” (if that's the paper you're using).
• Ring binder folder for US letter or A4 paper, depending on where you live. Your local office supply store will be the best place to get a thick and sturdy one.
• Hole puncher.
• Printer to print out the template.
• Paper. US letter or A4 size depending on where you live.
• Optional: Pinking shears (affiliate link). These will cut your fabric swatches with a zig zag edge to reduce fraying. The ones I have are sturdy, stylish, and cut smoothly.
• If you don't have pinking shears, just use regular fabric scissors/shears.
• Glue stick, double-sided tape, or a stapler to secure the fabric swatch to the paper. Your local office supply store will have these.
• Pen to write information onto the template.

First, download the template to your device.

Make sure your printer is turned on and has enough paper and black ink.

Print the template. In the settings, select the paper type that you're using: "A4" or "US letter".

Select "100% scale" or "do NOT scale" to avoid shrinkage or enlargement.

If your paper is quite thin (eg. 80gsm) choose the "print single-sided" setting. Otherwise, the ink will show through on both sides. If you're not bothered about this, or your paper is quite thick, choose the "print on both sides" setting.

Print as many pages as you need for your fabric stash. Each page has enough space for 4 fabric swatches. So if you have 20 fabrics to record, print 5 pages, and so on.

(Optional) Choose a fabric from your stash, unfold it, and measure how big it is (eg. 50" wide x 30" long). Write that down on the printed template.

Record other bits of information about the fabric like its name, fiber content (eg. 100% cotton), washing instructions, whether you've prewashed it or not, and other "notes" like price, supplier, pattern repeat size, weight, rub test results, etc. Whatever is important to you.

Cut a small 2" x 2" square from each fabric using your pinking shears or fabric scissors.

Stick the swatch onto your paper template next to the information you just wrote down. You can use a glue stick, double-sided sticky tape, or a stapler.

Repeat this process for each fabric in your stash.

Set your hole puncher to the paper size you're using (US letter or A4). Then hole punch each page and insert the pages into your binder.

Next time you go shopping, remember to jot down all the information and a swatch before you forget. Things like whether you've prewashed it or not are easily forgotten!

And when you've used up a piece of fabric you can tick the "no longer in stash" checkbox.

That's it. Next time you have a sewing project idea in mind, you can effortlessly flick through your swatch book for inspiration :)